New Couch to 5k (C25K) thread - anyone out there in week 1?

Cmccracken1

Finished Week 04, Day 02 today!! It went waaaayyy better than day 01. I was a little worried there. I even added an extra minute onto the last five-min. segment. I keep trying not to look ahead and just take it day by day, but I feel Week 05, Day 03 (the 20 minutes straight) looming over me. Getting new sneakers this weekend (reward for completing four weeks - doing my last run of week 4 on Saturday.

My husband gave me an early Valentines present : I teeny tiny fanny pack to put my phone and work I.D while I run so I don't have to hold the phone and have the work I.D. that usu. is on a lanyard around my neck under my tank top instead of flapping in the breeze sticking to my stomach while I run. He also gave me a little gel thingamagigger for when I run. Anyone try those gel thingies? Anyway, his gift really touched me because it made me feel that he has the confidence in me that I'll complete all nine weeks. Now I just wish I had that confidence in myself; I keep waiting for the bottom to drop out for me running -- like getting injured. I am really enjoying this challenge and don't want to stop trying. Gotta start believing in myself more.

Anywho, happy running to everyone and hopefully you all are getting a long weekend like me this weekend.

~Melanie

awww that is sooo sweet.. kudos to him for being there for you... i am going to do my first outside run Saturday and it will also be day 3 week 4... check back Saturday night with you.... dont worry about week 5 we can take it together.

lklein

Quick vent: So I signed up for a 5k on July 23. I have mentioned this to a few people and I'm shocked by the majorly unsupportive responses I've been getting - even after I explain the race is about 18 weeks away and I am working on the C25K 9 week training program. So I should have plenty of time to train and be ready. Everyone has been so negative, or laughed, or said I was crazy, or even offered to buy me out of the race so I wouldn't get hurt doing it! :grumble: WTH people!!!?? Grrr... Does this happen to anyone else?

Anyway, I bought new running shoes and I'm going to the gym to night to do Week 1 - Day 4 (repeating the week) tonight. Thanks for all your support everyone... because of you I now run a little less elephant like! :drinker:

Really? That's too bad; now you just have to show all of them just how wrong they are (motivation?) You have plenty of time to prepare and I'm sure you'll do great. The reason I started C25K was because I signed up for an 8k at the end of April. I'm pushing it a little, but I have tons of support from my sister (who will be running with me), boyfriend and co-workers.

On another note, I just finishe W2D3, and I'm loving it. Kinda had it rough earlier in the week from sore leg, but today was a breese... Looking forward to W3D1!:drinker:

dmgaloha

Melanie, I know how you feel about waiting for the bottom to drop out... For me, I hit my pre-baby weight this week, so I haven't weighed this little in over SIX years... It's a bit overwhelming, and in the past I've sabotaged myself anytime I started making any progress. It's a huge mental challenge to let yourself be strong and workout and lose weight.

kspedsrn, I'm glad you figured out how to run "lighter". I didn't really know how to explain it, but you can somehow do it, right? It's like pretending to lift yourself up, like a string is pulling your head up or something. Heather, I'm glad it's helped you a bit too. No more elephants! :laugh:

Rachel, one strategy I've used is to run the first day of the week at a slower pace, then increase on Day 2, then again on Day 3 to the pace I want to be at. So for example, you could run Day 1 at 5.5, then Day 2 at 5.7 and Day 3 at 6.0 (since that is your target pace). OR, another strategy is to start the run at the slower pace 5.5 then increase by 0.1 every 2 or 3 minutes until you are at 6.0...

HMKan, it's so true - sometimes this thread is the best motivator!! Still can't believe you are doing C25k and SHRED at the same time. You're either a saint or insane...

povester, we're at the exact same spot in the program. I'm running W4D1 tomorrow too! Good luck!

Yay to all the 20+ minute runners!! That Week 5 Day 3 really is a big hurdle to get over (physically and mentally).

Heather - that is AWFUL about the responses you're getting about the 5k. Please don't let these ignorant fools discourage you! Of course you can do it. You have lots of time to train, and now you have a goal to reach for to motivate you to keep at it! I bet they're all just jealous!! I'm signing up for a 10k in May, only 13 weeks away. So if I can it, you can do it. Damn them all to hell! :bigsmile:

Today was a yoga day for me. Starting Week 4 tomorrow. See you then.

jlsAhava

Quick vent: So I signed up for a 5k on July 23. I have mentioned this to a few people and I'm shocked by the majorly unsupportive responses I've been getting - even after I explain the race is about 18 weeks away and I am working on the C25K 9 week training program. So I should have plenty of time to train and be ready. Everyone has been so negative, or laughed, or said I was crazy, or even offered to buy me out of the race so I wouldn't get hurt doing it! :grumble: WTH people!!!?? Grrr... Does this happen to anyone else?

Anyway, I bought new running shoes and I'm going to the gym to night to do Week 1 - Day 4 (repeating the week) tonight. Thanks for all your support everyone... because of you I now run a little less elephant like! :drinker:

I'm lucky, a lot of my friends who are runners, were previously non-runners.... So they know this can be done, and are supportive in my efforts. The people you're talking to are probably just people who can't scrape up enough chutzpa to even attempt to do this on their own.

You can do this! We all can!

Cmccracken1

hey guys... anyone out there in or around the Charlotte NC interested in signing up for the kennelly 5k may 14th.. for the Humane Society,, you can run with you dogs... i think my bff and i are going to do it as our first 5K.....thoughts?

DPruneda17

Hi Everyone! I just finished Week 5 - Day 3 this morning! That's the one with a 20 minute run in there. Amazingly, I did it!!!! I had a lot of doubt. W5:D2 was really hard for me. I have to say to everyone that is working on this program - don't give up! You might think you can't do it, you might doubt your endurance. But the program works, it really does. On W1:D1, I honestly didn't believe in the program. I've always hated running and just never thought I'd ever like running or want to run. But I kept pushing through, going to the next week. For me, it has been mostly a mental game, I've been psyching myself out *worried* about my runs.

I'm only on Week 5 and I just ran 20 minutes. I have never in my life ran 20 minutes non-stop. NEVER. I don't think I've ever run more than 8 minutes non-stop before this program. But this morning I did! Keep at it, you will get there. As I mentioned, W5:D2 was really hard for me. Yet, I managed to make it through W5:D3. It's amazing how our endurance really does build and your body can do it. Just have to get my *mind* to know I can handle it and stop doubting

Happy running everyone!

I'm right there with you!! The most I had ever ran was 12 min., and that was like 5 years ago when I was working out with a personal trainer. I couldn't believe I made it 20 min. straight either! Tomorrow is 25 min. straight... scared!!! Oh, and enjoy next week, cause it is the last 'broken-up' run week! I can not believe that every run will be 25 min. from now on! Kinda freakin....!!

patricac

hey guys... anyone out there in or around the Charlotte NC interested in signing up for the kennelly 5k may 14th.. for the Humane Society,, you can run with you dogs... i think my bff and i are going to do it as our first 5K.....thoughts?

I wish I was out in NC to do this 5K with you! It sounds like so much fun to be able to run with your dogs I'm trying to find one in my area where I can bring dogs with me. Great that your BFF is going to be doing it with you!

patricac

I'm right there with you!! The most I had ever ran was 12 min., and that was like 5 years ago when I was working out with a personal trainer. I couldn't believe I made it 20 min. straight either! Tomorrow is 25 min. straight... scared!!! Oh, and enjoy next week, cause it is the last 'broken-up' run week! I can not believe that every run will be 25 min. from now on! Kinda freakin....!!

I peaked ahead at the rest of the weeks and was a little intimidated with all the long runs! I am actually looking forward to W6: Days 1 & 2! Good luck on your 25 min run tomorrow

Cmccracken1

I'm right there with you!! The most I had ever ran was 12 min., and that was like 5 years ago when I was working out with a personal trainer. I couldn't believe I made it 20 min. straight either! Tomorrow is 25 min. straight... scared!!! Oh, and enjoy next week, cause it is the last 'broken-up' run week! I can not believe that every run will be 25 min. from now on! Kinda freakin....!!

I peaked ahead at the rest of the weeks and was a little intimidated with all the long runs! I am actually looking forward to W6: Days 1 & 2! Good luck on your 25 min run tomorrow

MY SUGGESTION TO EVERYONE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD FOR EVERYONE... DO NOT LOOK AHEAD IT WILL ONLY INTIMIDATE YOU... TAKE IT ONE WEEK AT A TIME MOVE ON WHEN YOUR READY WHEN YOU CAN RUN THE DAY WITH OUT FEELING YOUR DYING...LOL... I AM GOING FORWARD EYES CLOSED...LOL

Cmccracken1

hey guys... anyone out there in or around the Charlotte NC interested in signing up for the kennelly 5k may 14th.. for the Humane Society,, you can run with you dogs... i think my bff and i are going to do it as our first 5K.....thoughts?

I wish I was out in NC to do this 5K with you! It sounds like so much fun to be able to run with your dogs I'm trying to find one in my area where I can bring dogs with me. Great that your BFF is going to be doing it with you!

Thanks we are looking forward to it... we are meeting tomorrow with our dogs to do our first out doors run. First time the temp has been warm enough so we are gonna do Day 3 of week 4 tomorrow i cant wait. i hope our babies cooperate with us.

fit4life_73

Way to go to the 20 minute runners. I fell off the wagon before I could get all the way in it this week. I struggled with my last run W4D1. I might have to repeat W3. Good luck to everyone.

MermaidMamma

OMG I did it too!! W5d3 was HARD but I managed to think of it in little chunks and I made it though! Hubby said "If you can push out 3 babies with no drugs, you can run 20 minutes!" HE was right!! My ankles hurt after the halfway point, but I started thinking, 10 minutes, 7 minutes, that's like NOTHING in everyday life. What else can I think of besides my pain. So I concentrated on my breathing, visualized my goal weight, thought about the finish line at the 5k, looked my hubby's cute butt Pretty soon it was two minutes! YEAH! Then, like last time, I walked to 1.9 miles for cool down and ran the last .10 just to give a big "f-you" to my doubts!!

alliej

I am starting C25K tomorrow. I have a 5K my husband signed me up for April 10 ( 57 days away). Has anyone done it? Does it really work? I'm scared I won't be able to do this run in April being as big as I am. Any advice is appreciated.

MermaidMamma

Allie, I have NEVER run before in my LIFE. Last night, I ran for TWENTY MINUTES! It was crazy! And I didn't die! I'm starting week 6 tomorrow, so it is SO doable. Get some GOOD shoes, learn some good stretches. I'm doing a 5 k April 30 and I can't wait! Good luck!!

jlsAhava

Way to go to the 20 minute runners. I fell off the wagon before I could get all the way in it this week. I struggled with my last run W4D1. I might have to repeat W3. Good luck to everyone.

I had an awful time with Wk 4! I didn't complete a single day successfully! I decided to lower my speed and repeat the week - it made a HUGE difference. I had been increasing my speed since W1, and decided it was no longer sustainable. I have plenty of time to focus on speed later on.

I also called on my internal cheer-leader... I literally imagined my friends and supporters from the forums cheering me on! So much of this is mental that you really need to remind yourself that you can do it!

Someone had also suggested that I take a longer brisk walk break if I don't feel ready for the next run... Since the running segments are the most important part, I gave it a go and it worked out well.

Keep at it! You can do this!

fit4life_73

Way to go to the 20 minute runners. I fell off the wagon before I could get all the way in it this week. I struggled with my last run W4D1. I might have to repeat W3. Good luck to everyone.

I had an awful time with Wk 4! I didn't complete a single day successfully! I decided to lower my speed and repeat the week - it made a HUGE difference. I had been increasing my speed since W1, and decided it was no longer sustainable. I have plenty of time to focus on speed later on.

I also called on my internal cheer-leader... I literally imagined my friends and supporters from the forums cheering me on! So much of this is mental that you really need to remind yourself that you can do it!

Someone had also suggested that I take a longer brisk walk break if I don't feel ready for the next run... Since the running segments are the most important part, I gave it a go and it worked out well.

Keep at it! You can do this!

Thanks for the words of encouragement. They really help. I got on the scale this morning and I am down 1lb. That is really good considering the week I had. I am super motivated. I know I can do this. I will definitely use the mind trick techniques to push through. My ankles and the side of my legs usually hurt when I'm running. I will lower the speed to see if it helps.

I can do this!

dmgaloha

Argh, today was Week4, Day 1. I was downstairs on my treadmill, and my basement is unfinished so it's quite cold (like need-to-wear-a-jacket cold), and I found my breathing was really suffering. Not to mention my heart rate was through the roof! I had my HRM on, and it was up to 190 on my runs, which is higher than my supposed max HR. I was already struggling on the first 3 min run @ 5.2mph, so I knew I was going to be in trouble today. I ran the first 5 min run at 5.0, as well as the next 3 min run. The only thing that got me through that 3 min was anger. I was just mad. I walked an extra 30 seconds to try to recover a bit more, but still, by the last 5 min run, I was spent, and only lasted 90 sec. BOO!!

I'm trying not to beat myself up. Week 3's total run minutes are 9 minutes, and Week 4 is 16 minutes!! That is a BIG increase. No wonder so many people were repeating Week 4! I figure at 12.5 minutes, I did make some progress.

I'm targeting for more on Day 2. And I'll be sure that my next run is at the gym where it is warmer!! See if that helps any.

reese66

Did w4 day3, well sort of kept getting winded through the five minute runs so I guess I wussed out. I ran three minute runs instead. Sat down an read through all this and thought I probably would have fought through the five minutes runs if I would have read this before hand. Monday I will push through, Monday I will not give up!!!

jlewis1981

I'm in.. planning on starting tomorrow!

HMKan

Guys I'm so encouraged to know I"m not the only one with problems on week 4. There's no way I'm ready to move on to week 5. And that's completely ok. It's really easy to get wrapped up in the "deadline" of it all, but honestly, I don't have any races coming up, I'm just doing this for the heck of it (and I'm sure races when I'm done with the program, whenever that may be). Just take it slow. I know many of you signed up for races to spur you on and that's wonderful! But nobody says you can't take a break on a race. Don't stress yourself out too much. Push yourself but when you can't, step back and recognize you need a break. You're all doing AMAZINGLY and I'm so proud of each of you.

Today was my 4th run this week. Since I've completely my 3 runs of week 4 already, I planned on hopping on the treadmill just to satisfy my curiosity of how long I could run, varying my speeds. Now, many of you know I'm also doing JM 30 Day Shred. I did my run first, then shred on my first day of shred (Thursday). That took a lot out of me for shred. So today, I did Shred first and then went to get on the treadmill. I couldn't run to save my life. I didn't feel like my legs were sore from Shred. I'm honestly wondering if I couldn't done it at all. I ended up walking at 3.0 on a 2.0 incline for 64 minutes (my husband was on the elliptical so we just watched House - otherwise I probably wouldn't have done it that long). It was a nice, brisk workout and a really nice cooldown from shred. But I have to wonder if I"m just pushing it too hard with running. I have W?D1 run tomorrow (for whichever week I decide to repeat or begin) and I'll definitely be taking the speeds down low. I have nothing to prove to anyone so I need to take it slow (5.0 is barely doable but endurance comes first, then speed). That's my plan of attack.

Anyone else doing both Shred and C25K? Which are you doing first? Or are you doing it at separate times of the day (I really hate taking more than 1 shower, so I'm not sure that'll work for me)?

You guys rock and are so encouraging, so THANK YOU!

jlsAhava

Guys I'm so encouraged to know I"m not the only one with problems on week 4. There's no way I'm ready to move on to week 5. And that's completely ok. It's really easy to get wrapped up in the "deadline" of it all, but honestly, I don't have any races coming up, I'm just doing this for the heck of it (and I'm sure races when I'm done with the program, whenever that may be). Just take it slow. I know many of you signed up for races to spur you on and that's wonderful! But nobody says you can't take a break on a race. Don't stress yourself out too much. Push yourself but when you can't, step back and recognize you need a break. You're all doing AMAZINGLY and I'm so proud of each of you.

Today was my 4th run this week. Since I've completely my 3 runs of week 4 already, I planned on hopping on the treadmill just to satisfy my curiosity of how long I could run, varying my speeds. Now, many of you know I'm also doing JM 30 Day Shred. I did my run first, then shred on my first day of shred (Thursday). That took a lot out of me for shred. So today, I did Shred first and then went to get on the treadmill. I couldn't run to save my life. I didn't feel like my legs were sore from Shred. I'm honestly wondering if I couldn't done it at all. I ended up walking at 3.0 on a 2.0 incline for 64 minutes (my husband was on the elliptical so we just watched House - otherwise I probably wouldn't have done it that long). It was a nice, brisk workout and a really nice cooldown from shred. But I have to wonder if I"m just pushing it too hard with running. I have W?D1 run tomorrow (for whichever week I decide to repeat or begin) and I'll definitely be taking the speeds down low. I have nothing to prove to anyone so I need to take it slow (5.0 is barely doable but endurance comes first, then speed). That's my plan of attack.

Anyone else doing both Shred and C25K? Which are you doing first? Or are you doing it at separate times of the day (I really hate taking more than 1 shower, so I'm not sure that'll work for me)?

You guys rock and are so encouraging, so THANK YOU!

You're an impressive woman! I don't think I could handle doing them both on the same day! I'm still sore from yesterday's 20 minute run (I'll just pretend that 4.6 is a run) :ohwell:

Looking forward to learning which week you decide to do!

Cmccracken1

i did week4 day 3 today... today was the first time ever i ran outside... It was a lot different than running on the treadmill because i couldnt tell how fast i was going and so i kept backing down and speeding up because i didnt know if i was going to wear out or not...but i did it... Also the cold air outside was a lot harder on my breathing took me longer to recover... I also ran for the first time with my bestest bud Vinnie my 2 yo German Shepard.. our first 5k is gonna be at Petpalooza in May so i wanted him to start training with at least once a week.. I think i am going to do one more day of Week 4 before i move on to Week 5 just because everyone seems to have such a problem with week 5 i want to make sure i am ready....thanks for alll the support.. Good luck to everybody in the next week.

patricac

@HMKan: I'm doing the 30 Day Shred as well, just started on Mon 2/7. I do the C25K 3x's a week (M,W,F) in the morning. Then I do the 30 Day Shred in the afternoon. I don't think I could do them back-to-back, as both make me really tired!

Kai85

Good Job Everyone. So great to hear so many conquering the 20 minute run!

I finished w5d2 today. I felt pretty good. I ordered the 30 day shred about two weeks ago and my plan was to start it whenever it arrives but I think I might hold off until March.

I lost 1.3 kg this week (about 3 pounds). Yay for running.

Hope everyone has a fantastic week

htimpaired

Just finished w1d2, ran at 5.5mph. Didn't feel too winded, so hoping this is a good sign. So far I'm liking this program, we'll see how I feel when I get to the longer runs!

MermaidMamma

Finished W6d1 tonight! It was hard because I kept having issues...first I was wearing the wrong bra. Then my hairtie broke (I have LONG THICK hair, impossible to run with it flopping around!) Then, I tried a new podcast and it SUCKED. So I had to stop to fix things twice, but I waited until walking time to do it, so I don't think I "failed". It was hard to concentrate since I was SO distracted, but I worked through it!

Down to 175! (not sure what starting was, somewhere in the low 180's)
Ran @5.0 mph
Walked @ 3.0-3.5 mph

Ran the last .10 to make it an even 2.5 miles during cooldown!

shardown

Hello! I'd like to join in

I just started W1D1 today and feel great! Did 3.1km (1.9m) at an average of 6.1km/hr.

I have a question though. Does anyone do any workouts on the days off? I plan to do yoga and elliptical trainer plus strength training. I was working out 5-6 days a week for the past 6 weeks so can I still do that or should I take rest days in between?

HMKan

Hello everyone. Great work this week!

JLS - 4.6 is about the most I see myself doing (at this point) on a 20 minute run, whenever I get around to that particular run. I think it's just fine. Great work!!

Cmcracken - I love the idea of you getting your dog to train with you. What a great idea! How fun!

Partica - it sounds like you've got a good plan. I know that I need to break them up because ever since I started Shred, my runs have suffered and my shred isn't as strong as it could be. I don't want to half-*kitten* either, but I just can't bear the idea of having 2 separate workouts in a day. Maybe I need to jsut do shred on my off days from running. That is a tough pill to swallow though as I really hate to take steps backward from what I've been able to do so far. But then, I've only made it 3 days and totally crashed and burned on today's shred (day 4 - which I only did for 5 minutes then stopped). I have no idea what to do, but I'm glad you have a smart plan. Let me know how it works out!

Kai, HT, Mermaid - great work this week!

Sharina - It sounds like you have a good plan for how to work out on your off-run days. I do elliptical and 30 day shred on my off days. Or sometimes I'll just walk for an hour at an incline. Take rest days when you need them. Some people build a rest day into their schedule and I think it's smart. I think its most important to listen to your body.

AFM - I decided to try week 5, day 1 tonight. It was fine, I finished it. I took the run speed way down from 5.0 to 4.6 on the last run. I'm a little disappointed. I think my heart wasn't in it and that's no real excuse. I just couldn't get amped up and I hadn't realized how important that mindset was to actually pushing through. I did finish it. Only burned about 308 calories, but it's ok. I"m not sure yet what my plan is for what days I'll do. I might just repeat tonights run for this week and pick up the rest of week 5 next week. 5run 3walk 5run 3walk 5run feels like a good place to tread water for a while. I just need to get back that lovin' feeling toward my workouts and stop feeling so blah about them. I'll get there!

dmgaloha

Guys I'm so encouraged to know I"m not the only one with problems on week 4.

Anyone else doing both Shred and C25K? Which are you doing first? Or are you doing it at separate times of the day (I really hate taking more than 1 shower, so I'm not sure that'll work for me)?

HMKan, Glad my Week 4 struggles have offered you encouragement... But I'll be happier when I can kick Week 5's butt! :laugh: Congrats on getting through your Week 5 workout!! I am envious of you burning "only" 308 calories. On my HRM / treadmill, my calories are almost always the same as my distance. So if I've covered 2 miles, I've usually burned 200 cal.

I am not doing Shred, but if I were, I'd do it on my off-days from running. I'm wiped from either workout, so can't imagine doing both on the same day. :noway:

CMC, glad to hear you found the cold air a bit bothersome too. I have a hard time pacing myself outside, that's one of the reasons I like running on the treadmill (set it and forget it). Outside, I have a tendency to start too fast, then can't finish. When I ran my first race (a 5-miler / 8k), I ran with my sister and told her "ok, I run 12-min miles, can you be my pace bunny?" and we finished in 1:04.

Mermaid, glad you're working through your challenges. My hair would drive me crazy too, if I didn't have it pulled back.

Sharina, you were asking about off-days. I run on Tues/Thurs/Sat, and do yoga on Mon/Fri. I struggle to fit that much exercise into my schedule (work, study, kids), so I have been taking Wed/Sun as rest days. Once I am coping better, I may add more.

Today is yoga day...

lklein

Alright, just did W3D1 and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Took it a little slow so I don't over do it , but think I can increase the speed a little on Wed.

Happy Running